DALLAS (WBAP & KLIF News) — After a record-warm October and temperatures into the 80’s in November, plants in North Texas are still showing their traditional colors with very few leaves hitting the ground.
While experts say plant life itself isn’t harmed by the temperatures, they say it could cause issues for the blooming of plants in the spring.
“Bulbs really can’t go in until the soil temperatures are cool enough,” said Dave Forehand, Vice President of Gardens at the Dallas Arboretum. “It can throw us off with our timing.”
He said soil temperature has to be 55 degrees in order for Arboretum staff to plant the bulbs for spring season — something that has typically happened to this point. But the temperatures have not reached 55 beneath the ground yet, and he says if the don’t by Thanksgiving, that’s when the Arboretum could see delays.
As far as plant health is concerned right now, Forehand says plants in North Texas have adapted to unpredictable Texas weather and aren’t in any danger with the higher-than-usual temperatures.
“It doesn’t really hurt them long-term I think,” Forehand said. “It will eventually frost and freeze, and we’ll have our winter. Trees will go dormant, and we’ll move along.”
If anything, Forehand says the warm temperatures have been a blessing, giving the Dallas Arboretum an extended fall season for patrons to enjoy.
“What it’s allowed us to do is have a beautiful fall display much longer than we normally would,” Forehand said. “All the flowers that are beautiful in the fall are still beautiful because of this milder weather.”
